39 



acooirat of the situation, and of the soil and stock found 

 in each compartment into which the hlocks hare been 

 differentiated. 



The work requires trained observation and a good deal of physical exercise, 

 but. does not call for any involved process of leasoning. It is necessary, however, 

 that the attenlion of the working-plans officer shmild be continnously sustained 

 BO that no important facts may esonpf him. He should not, theretore, attempt more 

 at one time than oaa be accomplished without over-fatigue. 



The situation. — The situation includes the relative position 

 and elevation as well as the aspect and slope. As regards 

 elevation, the absolute height above sea-level should be 

 noted generally for the forest; but the height relative to 

 the surrounding country, together with the absence or 

 presence of sheltering land, is of more importance as regards 

 particular blocks or compartments and should be noted. 

 Thus the upper portion of a slope near the top of a ridge 

 may require very different cultural treatment from the 

 lower portion towards, the bottom of the underlying valley, 

 although the difference of level above the sea may be 

 slight. The aspect should always be stated where it is 

 well defined ; but in hilly ground a single block often faces 

 several points of the compass. The slope may be stated 

 in a single word. A slope is said to be gentle when the 

 inclination is not greater than about 1 in 6 ; it is steep 

 when more than 1 in 6 but not greater than 2 in 3 ; it is 

 very steep when more than 2 in 3, and becomes precipitous 

 when it reaches 1 in 1. 



The soil The more important facts with regard to the 



soil may be expressed in a few words descriptive of its 

 surface, its composition, its physical state, its depth and its 

 fertility. The fertility or productive value of the soil, as 

 regards the species which has to be considered, may gene- 

 rally be summed up by such terms as "good" or "very 

 good," " bad " or " very bad," as the case may be. With 

 regard to its surface, the soil may he quite bare and hard, 

 or covered with a layer of leaves, or with vegetable 

 mould apt for the reception of seed. Or it may be car- 

 peted with moss or grass or over-grown with^ bushes. 

 The physical character of the soil — its looseness and the size 

 of the particles forming it— are, however, of greater impor- 

 tance as regards forest vegetation than the chemical compo- 

 sition. The soil may be formed of stiff clay, loose sand or 

 agglomerations of stones and boulders ; while its hygrosco- 

 picity may vary from marshy to dry. But of all the proper- 



